I carefully mull over his words, weighing the options in my mind. The stakes are high and the offer is enticing. We've already been through so much and the last thing we need is more trouble from the law.

Mason's expression softens ever so slightly, his eyes searching mine. "Reynolds will be put away for a long time. The charges we have on him will stick. He won't see the light of day again. But it's crucial that we control the narrative, the story we present to the public."

Leaning back in my chair, I cross my arms over my chest as I consider his words. "We'll think about it," I reply.

Impatience flashes across Mason's face, but he quickly regains his composure with a nod. "Fair enough. But don't taketoo long. The longer this drags out, the harder it becomes to contain."

As he turns to leave, Tank steps forward, his imposing figure looming over Mason. "One more thing, Detective. We have our own ways of dealing with problems. If we find out you're playing us, all bets are off."

Mason's expression falters for a moment, uncertainty flickering in his eyes before he forces a tight smile and replies, "Understood."

With that, he exits the room with a soft click of the door closing behind him.

“Seems like a fair trade,” Vance says with a sigh, sinking into the chair across from me. “The Dead Demon and the cops off our backs at the same time. It’ll give us air to breathe. Get everything back in order and under control.”

“We’ll play their game for now, but we keep our eyes open. If they try to screw us over, we’ll be ready.”

Neither one of them says anything, and I can see the exhaustion start to take its toll. It’s been a hell of a week, and we’re all running on fumes.

“Let’s call it a night,” I say, pushing myself up from the chair. “We’ve done what we can for now.”

“Wait!” Tank holds up a hand. “Who's going to give our gift to Izzy?”

We all exchange glances in the room.

“We all will,” I say, pushing my chair in. “She’s ours now, and we’re hers, plain and simple.”

“About damn time the four of us agree on something,” Vance says with a smirk.

As I pushopen my bedroom door, the sight of Izzy lying fast asleep. Her hair cascades around her face, and she looks so serene, so beautiful, that it takes my breath away.

“She’s out like a light,” Tank whispers, a small smile tugging at his lips.

“Can’t blame her,” Vance murmurs. “She’s been through a lot.”

She’s here, in my room, our home, in nothing more than one of my shirts, taking my breath away and I can’t believe it’s real.

The mere sight of her, in my shirt and tangled in my sheets, is like a match sparking a wildfire in my chest, igniting every nerve and desire within me. The way her body is exposed beneath the fabric, the curve of her hips and the dip of her collarbone, it drives me wild with desire.

My heart rate increases and my body heats up, all from just looking at her.

I move quietly across the room, not wanting to wake her, but as I approach the bed, her eyes flutter open. She blinks sleepily, her gaze focusing on us.

“Hey,” she says softly, her voice thick with sleep. “You’re back.”

“Hey,” I reply, my own smile matching hers. “We didn’t mean to wake you.”

“It’s okay,” she yawns, stretching like a cat. “I don’t mind. I could get used to this though.”

“What’s that?” Vance asks, joining us at the bedside.

“Waking up to the three of you.”

God, her words are like a caress, and I can feel my resolve crumbling. She’s quickly becoming my weakness, and I don’t even care.

Tank chuckles and runs a hand through his dark hair. “Well, get used to it, sunshine. We aren’t going anywhere.”

“I like the shirt,” I say, tugging at the edge of it. The outline of her nipples underneath causes a surge of heat to rise through me. I’m losing control.